AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2019 - 6

PRESIDENT'S POSITION

As you like it

BY MARK BAKER
President and CEO

Staying current in a digital world
"ALEXA, WHAT'S THE WEATHER TODAY?" It's hard to

believe, but nearly one in three families are asking their
home devices questions like this each morning as the
technology is becoming more mainstream in U.S. households. With the ability to brief you on the daily forecast,
play your favorite music, and answer thousands of trivia
questions, it's no surprise that smart devices are here to
stay and rapidly changing how we live.
But it's not just Alexa. Emerging technology and
innovations such as artificial intelligence, touch screens,
smartphones, and social media constantly transform the
way we communicate, amuse ourselves, and consume
news. For pilots, that also means new ways to obtain
information.
A recent AOPA study shows that U.S. pilots dialing
flight service for initial preflight weather briefings has
declined from 54 percent in 2017 to 37 percent today.

Emerging technology and innovations constantly
transform the way we communicate, amuse
ourselves, and consume news.

AOPA President
MARK BAKER is a
commercial pilot
with single- and
multiengine land
and seaplane
ratings, and a
rotorcraft rating.

Instead, pilots are opting for online alternatives and
apps to get weather information. So, what does that
mean for the beloved 1-800-WX-BRIEF?
If you ask me, nothing can replace the wealth of
knowledge doled out by a briefer trained in meteorology, especially when that go/no-go decision becomes
dicey. While I'm all for innovation, having the most reliable and detailed information straight from an expert
provides an additional level of security when it comes to
the often-unpredictable wrath of mother nature.
Whether it's weather, safety, training, or aviation
news, AOPA recognizes that each of us has our own
preferences and ways we prefer to receive information. Maybe you like the feel of print; maybe you like the
immersive experience of videos; maybe you like to multitask and listen to a podcast while driving or cooking
dinner. No matter your preference, AOPA will always
strive to bring its members the greatest aviation content available, whether or not you choose to invite Alexa
into your homes.
Since our flagship magazine AOPA Pilot launched
in 1958, it has been recognized as the most authoritative aviation magazine in the world-a description
that hasn't faltered to this day. Readers get to gaze at

6 | AOPA PILOT November 2019

stunning aerial photography, and enjoy feature stories
on flying destinations, safety tips, aircraft ownership,
and cockpit technology.
Meanwhile, keeping up with the latest in industry
news has never been easier. And because not everyone
has a penchant for print, AOPA also offers several digital
ways to consume information. If you want access to content beyond what a monthly magazine can provide, our
website, AOPA.org, has the most up-to-date, hard-hitting news in general aviation. Our weekly video newscast,
AOPA Live This Week, presents the week's news in an
easy-to-watch, lean-back sort of way. Members also can
take advantage of tools such as our recently updated
AOPA Airport Directory, which has current fuel prices
and fees listed from various FBOs across the country.
Additionally, we have found that audiences have
an appetite for podcasts, especially younger listeners ages 12 to 24. Streaming services like Spotify and
Pandora have played a huge role in the growth of podcasts, and AOPA is riding that wave. You can tune in to
any of AOPA's podcasts, among them Hangar Talk, There
I Was, or Pilot Briefing through the AOPA app, AOPA's
website, or your favorite podcast site.
Those who are fond of safety tips and educational
videos already know that the AOPA Air Safety Institute
is the leader in creating quality educational and training resources. The institute's research and analysis also
helps guide other organizations in creating and implementing better training standards to improve safety. For
more visual learners, ASI has a vast library of free safety
content that reaches millions of users a year, providing
the knowledge to make them safer. One of ASI's newest video series, Real Pilot Story from the Field, takes
viewers into the cockpit with real pilots who have experienced unpredictable in-flight conditions, and shows
them how they overcame those adverse situations.
We've made leaps and bounds in the past few
decades alone. It's never been easier to network with
our thousands of virtual "friends" and share content
with them through social media. But I will always
be a firm believer that there's nothing like meeting
my real friends-our members-in person at our various AOPA events. Quality time spent with friends and
family is irreplaceable, and that's something that will
always remain true.
AOPA
EMAIL mark@aopa.org

http://www.AOPA.org

AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2019